Radiator-supporting frame.



F. A. NEVEU.

RADIATOR SUPPORTING FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED M AY6, 1916.

1,213,401. Patented Jan. 23,1917.

ATTORNEY FRANK A. NEVEU, 01? DALLAS, TEXAS.

RADIATOR-SUPPORTING FRAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 23, 1917.

Application filed May 6, 1916. Serial No. 95,766.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK'A. NEVEU, citizen of the United States, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Radiator-Supporting Frames, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to new and useful improvements in radiator supporting frames.

In constructing radiators for motor vehicles it is customary to provide a casing which is usually soldered thereto and is either made of brass or some other metal which receives the same high finish as the rest of the body; and while some of these casings have been made to slip on the radiator they all present an exposed surface which covers the side of the radiator and must be finished.

In carrying out my invention I provide a frame for supporting the radiator and do away entirely with the casing and I arrange the frame so that the hood of the vehicle projects over and conceals the sides of the radiator, the forward edge of the hood resting on the shoulder or flange of the frame at the front of the radiator.. By this construction only the face and a small bead therearound are exposed, the sides of the radiator and the sides of the frame being completely concealed by this arrangement. The frame is mounted on the sills of the car and the radiator is fastened in the frame by screws or the like so that the frame is readily removable from the sills and the radiator is easily removed from the frame.

There are many advantages involved in this invention and by allowing the hood to completely cover both sides and the top of the radiator a great saving in the cost of manufacture is had. In making repairs the radiator may be quickly removed and replaced without soldering, and further if desired the radiator can be removed without removing the frame. The radiator cap is placed under the hood and thus if the same should leak the water will not run over the hood or the frame and spoil the paint thereon. said water often being rusty and containing alkalis which ruin the finish on the casing and hood.

Other features of the invention will be apparent from a perusal of the following specification and the invention will be more readily understood by reference to the ac companying drawing in which an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of the front end of an automobile showing the invention applied thereto, Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken through the hood and looking toward the radiator, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the radiator supporting frame, and Fig. 4 is a cross sectional detail taken on the line 4-l of Fig. 2.

In the drawings the numeral 1 indicates the frame or sills of an automobile, and 2 indicates the hood. Between the forward ends of the sills I mount a radiator supporting frame 3 which is provided with laterally extending horizontal integral brackets 1 4L having depending aprons 5 at their forward ends coincident with the face of the frame.

The brackets rest on the sills and the aprons conceal the front ends of said sills. Screw bolts 6 pass down through the brackets and are engaged in the sills, whereby the frame is fastened in place.

The frame is formed with a central opening 7 and an arched top or crown portion 8, the face or front side of the frame being slightly curved or oval to give an ornamental appearance. A marginal rearwardly directed flange 9 is provided on the rear side of the frame and forms an arch extending from one bracket to the other or up both sides and across the top. This flange is set inward from the edge of the frame a'distance substantially equal to the thickness of the metal forming the hood, whereby a laterally directed bead is formed on the sides flange 9 and thus only the bead and the face 7 of the frame are exposed.

On each side a pair of lugs or fingers 11 project rearwardly from the flange 9 and are flush with the sides thereof as shown in Fig. 2. A radiator 12 is fitted into the frame so that its sides are in close contact with the inner sides of the flange 9 and the fingers 11, but the top of which is sufficiently below the top of the flange to permit a radiator cap 15 to be accommodated under the hood. Screws 13 passed through the fingers 11 engage in the radiator and support the same in position, while the usual rod 14 is engaged with the radiator and braces the upper portion of the structure. On the flange 9 at the center of. the top cars 16 are formed to provide a seat for the center hinge rod of the hood.

The central opening 7 of the frame is of such size as to expose only the usual radiating surface of the radiator and this is the only part of said radiator that is exposed, the frame and the hood completely concealing the other parts. It will be seen that the hood is made longer than is the usual practice and instead of terminating and resting on a flange at the rear side of the radiator it extends over said radiator and rests on the flange 9 which is at the front edge of the radiator. The entire frame 3 may be cast or stamped and is inexpensive when compared to the casing usually employed. The water standing in the radiator becomes rusty and when the radiator is filled often it runs over and this rusty Water rising to the top flows over the sides of the radiator casing and hood so that the paint and finish is stained and often spoiled. With the filling cap under the hood this cannot occur.

Not only is the hood given amore ornamental appearance but the entire front end of the automobile is improved and the advantages are many. The absence of solder makes the radiator more readily and easily repaired. It is quite evident that by removing the bolts 6 and disconnecting the rod 14 the radiator and frame may be easily removed from the frame of the car, and by taking out the screws 13 the frame and radiator are instantly disconnected and separated one from the other and just as easily replaced. It is obvious that by disconnecting the rod and removing the screws 13 the radiator 12 may be removed Without disturbing the frame or even loosening the same from the sills. A radiator that is leaking is quite diflicult to repair and the construction herein set forth will not only lessen the labor but will reduce the expense incidental to such repairing.

What I claim, is:

1. In an automobile construction, the combination with the radiator, of a hood having its forward edge extending beyond the rear face of the radiator, and a facing member mounted on the vehicle frame and placed in front of the front face of the radiator and supporting the-radiator and for ward end of the hood.

2. In an automobile construction, the combination with the radiator, of a hood having its forward edge extending substantially into the plane of the front face of the radiator, and a facing member placed in front of the radiator and the forward edge of the hood and supporting the forward end of the hood.

3. In an automobile construction, the combination with the radiator, of a hood having its forward edge extending beyond the rear face of the radiator, and a facing member mounted on the vehicle frame and placed in front of the front face of the radiator and having a rearwardly extending portion located between the hood and radiator and supporting the hood and radiator.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature.

I FRANK A. NEVEU. 

